Workplace Discourse

Code

EDEN3003

School

School of Education and English

Level

3

Credits

20

Semesters

Spring China

Summary

This module explores workplace communication in various contexts drawing on sociolinguistic theories and discourse analysis frameworks. It will cover a range of sociolinguistic / workplace topics, including but not limited to the following: relationship management and power negotiation in different workplace contexts, leadership discourse, conflict management, disagreement strategies, gendered communication and e-communication in the workplace, etc.. The module will emphasise the crucial relationship between social variables, power and communication in the workplace, and demonstrate how recourse to sociolinguistic and discourse analysis can illuminate and enhance communication in a range of workplaces .
Please note this module is assessed at the end of in Spring semester.  First sit/ Resit exams are scheduled normally in the summer and can take the same form as the missing/ failed component of the assessment (exam, essay etc.) or other form, as decided by the School.

Target Students

BA (Hons) English with International Business, other UG students by arrangement with the module convenor.

Classes

• One 1-hour-30-minute workshop each week for 10 weeks
• One 1-hour-30-minute seminar each week for 10 weeks

Assessment

• 90% Final assignment: 3000 word mini research project on one of the workplace communication topics discussed in this module
• 10% Portfolio: 1000 words, including a self reflection passage and a collection of notes / worksheets, as evidence of active participation in module learning activities

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding
• Of methodological design and application in producing sets of sociolinguistic data
• Of theoretical sociolinguistic frameworks and approaches and their application to the sociolinguistic study of the workplace
• Of a wide range of sociolinguistic data analytical techniques
Intellectual Skills
• The ability to seek out, assimilate and critically evaluate published research relating to workplace communication
• The ability to understand, compare and contrast different approaches, methodologies and theoretical frameworks in workplace studies
• The ability to undertake sociolinguistic analysis independently and relate this to existing research and theory
• The ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of their own work and draw appropriate conclusions
Professional Skills
• The ability to produce a project report to a professional disciplinary standard
• The ability to design and execute a sociolinguistic study of the workplace
• The ability to communicate analyses and conclusions effectively using and applying the technical concepts of the field
• The ability to apply analysis of workplace data to practical settings and understanding the implications for workplace practical settings and understand the implications for workplace practitioners
• Professional Communication: the understanding of different aspects in workplace communication, especially how to balance the transactional and interpersonal goals in dealing with workplace tasks on different professional roles
Transferable Skills
• The ability to produce systematic and rigorous descriptive and discursive writing
• The ability to undertake independent investigations of workplace communication
• Digital Capabilities: the use of information technology to aid the research and data analysis process, and the understanding of features of effective e-communication in different professional settings
• Co-ordinating with Others: the ability to cooperate and collaborate with others at work, e.g. in a project team
• Reflection: the ability to reflect one’s own communication skills and strategies in the workplace setting

Conveners

• Dr Ping Du